Just a bunch of random photos from 2012 that didn’t really fit in anywhere else.

If you are keeping track, this entry was expected to be a handful of images from Burning Man. I guess I wasn’t feeling up to tackling such a huge project just yet. Yes, I’m aware BM happened almost 2 months ago. I’m still decompressing. 😉

Instead, I whipped these up after taking a walk through Iowa City’s Oakland Cemetery where I took a couple shots of our infamous Black Angel. A post a little more fitting for Halloween perhaps.

I believe every town has got their own legends regarding an angel statue in a cemetery. I know my hometown does.

A study of our Advanced Technology Building designed by the famous Frank Gehry. An interesting architect who designed many of his constructions with what seems to be plenty of melting metallic forms and oddly positioned shapes. Not only does it look like a child’s construction of wooden toy blocks (covered in sheet metal) but Gehry even throws together a variety of different building materials as well as if the Swedish Chef was actually the true genius and creator behind this work of art. “First ya take the stone, then ya take the copper, bork bork bork.”

Gehry’s construction here in Iowa City is definitely a badge of honor for the University of Iowa. The building is (unfortunately) really only presentable from the Iowa River (west side). The view or lack of one from the main campus (east side) is that of one massive rectangular block of stone and a weird, seemingly detached, copper, bulbous form. But if one were following the Iowa River, this building acts as a beautiful sight and a breath of fresh air as it reflects the setting sun like a jewel amidst a ruin of neoclassical marble monoliths.

I’ve wanted to photograph this series for a while now and I still want to take a few more photos to fulfill my original intentions. Like for instance, I still have never got the chance to enter said building. I don’t even know what the inside looks like. Sad. So plan on a part 2 in the distant future.

I do love architecture but I really wish I could levitate or fly around, taking photos from different perspectives rather than always looking up in photos. Fortunately looking up is a satisfactory perspective when it comes to Architecture otherwise I would never have anything to show. One thing that I did finally get to try out for myself was an attempt at HDR photos (two above photos). An HDR photo is the merging of numerous photos with the same subject, each with a different exposure value (also called bracketing). It’s very easy to do and really takes less skill than it seems. I’d be happy to explain it to anyone that’s interested in trying it for oneself. Let me know what you think.

See also:

A Fall Walk

EDIT: I posted these images in a larger version under the photos tab.
http://archive.andyz.blog/gehry.html

I’ve gone through some photos from last year and figured a few of them were pretty decent to post. I don’t remember what parade or concert this was but I know this event took place during the same time that I arrived here in Iowa City. Probably some welcoming party for the new students. *shrug*

I lugged my tripod and camera around a cold and deserted campus. Tried my hand at some slow shutter speed photographs. There’s still too much shake in most of the photos. I have since purchased a better tripod and a remote shutter. Next time, I won’t even need to touch the camera.

Do you see it?!  Walking around this town is similar to finding all of the hidden packages in Grand Theft Auto.  Three down, 97 more to go!

See Also: http://archive.andyz.blog/2011/discoveries/

Location: E Market, N Gilbert, E Jefferson, N Linn.

150 Fly(?) territory? I saw this image everywhere. I have no idea what 150 fly means but ‘Fly 150’ is a scooter (thanks to Google search).

Other Places of Interest:

• T.Spoons!
  My second favorite coffee shop here in Iowa City and that’s mostly because of the ambience and the comfortable couches. Plus the Market Street T.Spoons is the closest coffee shop to where I live. A great place to work on homework for up to a maximum of 2 hours because that’s all internet WiFi one Caramel Macchiato (overly sweet = delicious) drink will allow you. (bummer) After that I just wander over to my number one favorite coffee shop and that is the Prairie Light Books Cafe to where I stay for the rest of the day drinking cappuccinos and surfing the net. The T.Spoons in the Old Capital Mall seems both cramped and uncomfortable.
• Motley Cow Cafe
  I have yet to experience the food here. (pending)
• R.S.V.P.
  Purveyor of pretty paper products and sundries nestled in Iowa City’s Northside Neighborhood
• El Bandito
  Five dollars will get you 1 taco. lol’s. It was a damn good taco but I left hungry cause I’m poor.
• Artifacts
  Your source for vintage furniture, clothing, jewelry, and chotchkies. Great store.
• Decorum (& Modela)
  Another wonderful little antique store.

Update: My continued explorations have revealed a lot more of these HD Ghost and 150 Fly tags all over Iowa City!  What do they mean?!  (11/30/2011)

http://iowacitygraffiti.tumblr.com = A great tumblr blog on Iowa City Graffiti. Looks like my work here is done. 😛

I could be wrong but I believe it is a mandated requirement that every University of Iowa student have a photo of the Old Capitol in their possession at all times. Or so it seems to be that way. And why not? It is a beautiful building with it’s golden (leaf) dome, temple front, and stone block masonry.

The Old Capitol Building is both the symbol and the heart of the University of Iowa.